OptimalShip's Helpful Shipping Tips

Are you confused by some of the lingo in international shipping? Abbreviations, acronyms, words that look different but mean the same thing…international shipping is tricky business, and the extensive vocabulary one must develop takes time and patience. Don’t worry, everyone must start somewhere, and we’re here to show you where.

All of these abbreviations can be downright confusing in the shipping world, especially when it comes to codes that define your products at the customs borders. Here, we talk a little about the most commonly confused codes and when they're used.

One of the most frustrating things in the shipping process is realizing that you – or a customer – have accidentally shipped a package to the incorrect address, such as an old address. Fortunately, in some circumstances, you can correct this seemingly uncorrectable mistake –if you catch the mistake before the package has been delivered. Depending on what carrier you are using and when you catch the mistake, you do have some options.

If your company is thinking about shipping internationally, you’re probably already shipping domestically. That makes sense; it’s much easier, in almost every country, to start shipping to places within your borders. The rules are consistent within a country and packages get to where they need to go without the hassle of customs and other delays.

How did we ship products without the internet? Before digital media did the work for us, we had to do the work ourselves, and this often involved using our equine companions to assist in our efforts. While we couldn't ship internationally with horses, we certainly made leaps and bounds forward with domestic shipping during the mid-1800's. One of the flagship transportation services, despite its short lifespan, became one of the most recognized mail delivery services in history.

The Pony Express

One thing is for certain: when you’re shipping things across country borders, it can get expensive before you know it. Shipping internationally is a big unknown for a lot of people. Often, before they even ship anything, they wish to know a cost associated with their export so that they can properly plan for that charge.

Unfortunately, estimating the cost of shipping internationally is more difficult than it seems in the beginning. It isn’t as simple as knowing where the package is going, though that’s often a great place to start.

Exporting laws can be tricky, but must be followed in order to get your goods where you want them to go. We've made an infographic to help. Here are 5 steps to follow in order to comply with export laws.